Basil F. Heath (March 18, 1917 – January 24, 2011),[1] better-known by his stage name, Chief White Eagle, was an actor, stuntman and television personality whose career spanned several decades beginning with the 1940 film, Northwest Passage.[2] He was sometimes credited as Chief Sky Eagle. He also appeared in television programming in the Chicago, Illinois, area.[3][4]
Biography[]
Basil F. Heath was born on March 18, 1917.[2] Although he claimed to be of Mohawk ancestry,[1] after his death, his wife stated that Heath's parents were actually Andrew Cleve and Amelia (née De Amorim) Heath.[2] Heath attended McGill University in Montreal, Quebec,[citation needed] and Oxford University, [citation needed] in the United Kingdom.[2] After moving to the United States, Heath served as a liaison officer for the United States Office of War Information during World War II, as well as a volunteer member of the United States Army’s 101st Airborne Division during the war.[1][2]
He began his career as a welder and iron worker in skyscraper construction in Chicago and other cities.[better source needed][2][3] He then became a stuntman before transitioning to on-screen film roles.[2] His first film role came in the 1940 movie, Northwest Passage, which starred Spencer Tracy.[2] He appeared in more than thirty films throughout his career,[1] including Red River, and Niagara.[2]
As "Chief White Eagle" he hosted Totem Club on WTTW in Chicago during the 1960s, including a segment called "Indian Stories with Chief White Eagle".[2][3] The show was one of the first children's programs to debut on WTTW, a PBS affiliate based out of Chicago.[2] He also hosted a radio show, appeared in television and radio commercials and appeared as a guest on television series, Wagon Train.[2] He was known for his appearances in which he wore a plains-style headdress.[1]
Heath married his wife, Roberta “Bobbi Bear” Heath, on June 29, 1977. He resided in Tinley Park, Illinois, from 1975 until 1990.[2] He and his family then moved to Rochester, Indiana, where he lived for the rest of his life.[3]
In 1996, Heath reflected on his acting career and the role of Native Americans in western films saying, "The Indians were always the losers...For years, the movie industry portrayed the Indians in a derogatory manner. Happily, today, Indian films are more credible."[3]
He died at Woodlawn Hospital in Rochester, Indiana, at 2:35 a.m. on January 24, 2011, at the age of 93.[2] He was survived by his wife, Roberta “Bobbi Bear” Heath; daughter, Eunice Madeline Heath Collard; his adopted son, Kenneth "Lone Eagle" Heath; and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.[2] He was predeceased by his daughter, Lauraine Heath, and his two sisters, Sylvia Schroeder and Valerie Peterson.[2]
Selected filmography[]
- Trails of the Golden West (1931)
- End of the Trail - Chief Grey Beard (1932)
- Stagecoach - Indian Chief (uncredited) (1939)
- Last of the Redmen - Indian (uncredited) (1947)
- Red River - Indian Chief (uncredited) (1948)
- How the West Was Won - Arapajo Chief (uncredited) (1962)
- McLintock! - Running Buffalo (uncredited) (1963)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Metsch, Steve (2011-01-28). "Chief White Eagle’ remembered as friend of Tinley Park". SouthtownStar. http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/news/3524587-521/german-germany-indian-wife-american.html.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 Dailing, Paul (2011-01-26). "Former Tinley Resident and Kids' Host, Killed Seven Times by John Wayne, Dies in Indiana". Tinley Park Patch. http://tinleypark.patch.com/articles/former-tinley-resident-and-kids-host-killed-seven-times-by-john-wayne-dies-in-indiana.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Stephens, Dave (2011-01-27). "Film, television actor Chief White Eagle dies, Rochester resident Heath known for film, television roles". South Bend Tribune. http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20110127/News01/101270316/1130.[dead link]
- ↑ Rueff, Ashley (2011-01-27). "Former Tinley resident, Native American actor dies at 93". TribLocal. http://triblocal.com/tinley-park/2011/01/27/former-tinley-resident-native-american-actor-dies-at-93/.
External links[]
- Chief White Eagle at the Internet Movie Database
The original article can be found at Basil F. Heath and the edit history here.